The Cleveland Indians placed All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation and called up utilityman Chris Gimenez from Triple-A Columbus.

The Indians announced the moves before yesterday's 5-4 win over the Yankees.

Sizemore had struggled at the plate and not played much in the field recently because of the injury. He went 1 for 4, hitting his team-leading ninth homer Saturday night against the Yankees, but is hitting only .223 overall.

"We couldn't take it any further," said manager Eric Wedge, who had tried to keep Sizemore's normally productive bat in the lineup by using him as a designated hitter.

The two-time Gold Glove center fielder had played in the field only three times in his past 12 appearances, all in an interleague series in Cincinnati.

"The first couple of days, it looked like Grady was getting better, then it leveled off. We didn't want to push it and hurt it even more," Wedge said.

Wedge said an MRI exam showed no structural damage and that Sizemore would not swing a bat or do any throwing for two weeks.

A year ago, Sizemore had career-highs of 33 homers, 90 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.

Gimenez can catch, and was needed as a backup to Kelly Shoppach, who started in place of Victor Martinez. Martinez left Saturday's game with a left knee contusion.

RANGERS

OF HAMILTON OUT

Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton was out of the starting lineup for yesterday's game against the Oakland Athletics due to a recurring groin problem.

The Rangers have no current plans to put Hamilton on the disabled list, but Hamilton will undergo an MRI exam administered by Dr. John Preskitt today.

Hamilton sustained the injury on May 17 in a home game against the Los Angeles Angels when he hit the padded outfield wall while making a leaping catch.

ELSEWHERE

Dodgers: Left-hander Eric Stults was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained thumb on his pitching hand yesterday, clearing a spot in the rotation for opening day starter Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda is expected to be activated before today's start against Arizona after being sidelined nearly two months with a strained left oblique.

Padres: Right-hander Jake Peavy will make his scheduled start tomorrow against Philadelphia despite being bothered by right ankle tendinitis. Padres manager Bud Black said yesterday Peavy "feels confident it's not going to affect him."

Royals: Catcher John Buck is still in the hospital a day after he injured his lower back while preparing to bat against the Chicago White Sox. Buck was placed on the 15-day disabled list and catcher Brayan Pena was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

Reds: Right-hander Edinson Volquez, out with back spasms, will be activated from the disabled list and start today in the opener of a four-game series against St. Louis, according to manager Dusty Baker.

Red Sox: John Smoltz had his longest and strongest outing of the season yesterday, working five innings in a rehab start for the Greenville Drive in South Carolina. Smoltz, who signed with Boston in the offseason, gave up a run on four hits against the Charleston RiverDogs.